Newfoundland: Heading Home

photo: Hiking on the East Coast Trail near Cape Spear, Newfoundland

A stoney gully leading to the sea

The weather on departure day was mildly foggy, but not too bad. After breakfast, there was nothing I wanted more than to get away from people, cities, airports, and especially the airport hurry-up-and-wait game. So I packed my stuff, left it in the room, and headed back to Cape Spear. This time I headed north. It wasn't as flat as the other direction, and the plants were wet with overnight rain, but the views were lovely and I had the trail completely to myself. A sign at the parking lot said it was 1.7 km to Black Head, and that's where I turned around. Lots of stopping to eat blueberries and take photos.

Back to the hotel, off to the airport. Tropical Storm Henri had apparently caused a fair number of cancellations the day before, and the line-ups were significant. I was put on stand-by on my own flight, but they boarded me at the last minute. I watched Pixar's "Inside Out" on the dinky little seat-back screen.

So, Newfoundland. Doesn't do weather unless it's extreme: expect your plans to change considerably because of that. Looked a lot to me like Ontario on the north edge of Lake Superior, but everywhere bogs (or is it "fens?", perhaps "wetlands," "marsh," or "swamp?"). Beautiful country: I'd love to visit again, but I have to admit I have no urge to live there - I couldn't take the rain or the winter. I'd love to spend more time in Gros Morne, visit L'Anse aux Meadows, Witless Bay, Saint Mary's, Corner Brook, lots more of the East Coast Trail, Twillingate ...

photo: Hiking on the East Coast Trail near Cape Spear, Newfoundland

moss and cleft rock at the sea